Planned Parenthood groups merge

The affiliates of Planned Parenthood of Northeast, Mid-Penn and Bucks County (PPNMPBC) and Planned Parenthood of Central Pennsylvania (PPCP) have merged to form one organization.

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Wayne Independent - Honesdale, PA

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Posted Jul. 17, 2013 at 12:00 PM

Posted Jul. 17, 2013 at 12:00 PM

SCRANTON

- The affiliates of Planned Parenthood of Northeast, Mid-Penn and Bucks County (PPNMPBC) and Planned Parenthood of Central Pennsylvania (PPCP) have merged to form one organization.

The newly merged entity is called Planned Parenthood Keystone (PPKey).

Over the course of this past year, PPNMPBC and PPCP have been in a management agreement working toward a possible merger. Through the management agreement, the Planned Parenthood affiliates were able to reinforce their ability to serve patients by reducing duplication of efforts, improving medical care, enhancing local relationships and partnerships, improving upon quality and risk management, and increasing their resources to navigate health care reform.

These instituted best practices have allowed Planned Parenthood to become stronger and position itself as a major provider of essential health care.

PPKey will serve 37 counties, representing 43 percent of Pennsylvania’s population and more than half of the state’s area. PPKey will operate 17 health centers and provide medical services to more than 52,000 patients and extend comprehensive sexuality programs to over 13,000 young people.

“It is through the vision of both affiliate’s Boards of Directors, support from our donors, and hard work of our employees that has allowed us to strategically plan for and embrace a more comprehensive approach to better serve our communities,” states Kim Custer, President/CEO of Planned Parenthood Keystone.

"Both Planned Parenthood affiliates have outstanding reputations, stable finances, growing patient bases and solid support in our communities. By combining staff and leveraging economies of scale, we will have the resources to better serve our patients."

PPKey will have more than 140 employees with their headquarters in Lehigh Valley and regional administration offices located in Lancaster, Harrisburg, Reading, Warminster and York.